Phase III Trial of Brain MRI Surveillance in Stage IV Breast Cancer

May 14, 2026 updated by: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
This randomized, multi-institutional phase III trial evaluates whether routine surveillance brain MRI every 6 months improves detection and treatment characteristics of brain metastases in neurologically asymptomatic patients with stage IV breast cancer. Patients are stratified by receptor subtype, age, prior therapy, and study site, then randomized 1:1 to either scheduled surveillance MRIs or standard-of-care symptom-triggered imaging. The study aims to determine whether earlier detection leads to differences in treatment modality, frequency of brain metastases, leptomeningeal disease incidence, quality of life, and survival outcomes.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
156

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Miami, Florida, United States, 33176
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Baptist Health South Florida
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Rupesh Kotecha, MD
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Reshma Mahtani, MD
      • Tampa, Florida, United States, 33612
        • Recruiting
        • Moffitt Cancer Center
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Kamran Ahmed, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Histologic diagnosis of breast cancer with documentation of ER/PR/HER2 status
  • Radiographic evidence of stage IV extracranial disease enrolled within 60 days of diagnosis or starting first line therapy. HR+/HER2- patients may be enrolled within 60 days of starting 2nd line therapy as well.
  • HR+ will be defined as ER and/or PR > 10%. To be classified as HER2+ disease, overexpression of HER2 by either IHC or in-situ hybridization is necessary as defined by the ASCO / CAP Guidelines41. Triple negative will be classified as ER and PR <10% and HER2-.
  • Age ≥ 18
  • Life expectancy ≥ 6 months
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 2
  • Patients must be able to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent for study procedures
  • Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior diagnosis or treatment of brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease
  • History of other non-breast malignancy requiring treatment with the exception of those with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (e.g., 5-year OS of > 90%), such as but not limited to, non-melanoma skin cancers, stage I endometrioid uterine cancer, and others at the discretion of the PI
  • Neurologic symptoms warranting standard screening brain MRI in the judgement of the treating physician at time of enrollment
  • Indications warranting brain MRI for other neurologic conditions at time of study entry (including multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injuries, epilepsy, hydrocephalus and pituitary gland disorders)
  • Contraindication towards MRI with contrast
  • Chronic kidney disease stage IV or V or end stage renal disease (CrCl <30 ml/min)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Screening
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Other: Surveillance Brain MRI
Participants receive a baseline brain MRI followed by surveillance brain MRI every 6 months for 24 months.
Diagnostic test: Surveillance Brain MRI
Routine scheduled MRI imaging at baseline and at 6-month intervals.
Other: Standard of Care Brain Imaging
Participants receive a baseline brain MRI followed by standard-of-care imaging only if neurologic symptoms develop.
Diagnostic test: Standard of Care Brain Imaging
Imaging performed only when clinically indicated.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Treatment Characteristics of Brain Metastases
Time Frame: Up to 24 Months
Proportion of patients receiving surgery or whole-brain radiation therapy for brain metastases.
Up to 24 Months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Frequency of Brain Metastases
Time Frame: Up to 24 Months
The frequency of metastasis detection over the 24-month screening/follow-up period.
Up to 24 Months
Leptomeningeal Disease Incidence
Time Frame: Up to 24 Months
Incidence of radiographic detection of leptomeningeal disease.
Up to 24 Months
Brain Metastases at Diagnosis
Time Frame: Up to 24 Months
Average number of lesions on diagnostic MRI.
Up to 24 Months
Size of Largest Brain Metastasis
Time Frame: Up to 24 Months
Average size of largest brain metastasis.
Up to 24 Months
Overall Survival After Brain Metastasis Diagnosis
Time Frame: Up to 48 Months
Time from brain metastasis diagnosis to death from any cause.
Up to 48 Months
Brain Metastasis Specific Survival
Time Frame: Up to 48 Months
Time from brain metastasis diagnosis to death attributable to brain metastases.
Up to 48 Months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Florida Department of Health
Florida Biomedical Research Program - Bankhead Coley

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Kamran Ahmed, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 25, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 1, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 12, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 12, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 14, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • MCC-24030

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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